Mumbai: The assistant municipal commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Nitin Shukla, who was arrested on charges of raping an architect, has been remanded to police custody until April 30 by a magistrate. The arrest follows a complaint filed by the victim, who alleged that Shukla had developed a relationship with her under the pretext of marriage and later subjected her to physical assault, stalking, and harassment.
Details of the Arrest and Remand
During the court proceedings, the police sought custody of Shukla, arguing that the case was serious and the accused had not cooperated with the investigation. They emphasized the need for custodial interrogation to uncover further evidence. The magistrate granted police custody until April 30, allowing the authorities to question Shukla in depth.
Meanwhile, municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide stated that Shukla would be suspended from service, given that he has been in custody for over 48 hours. The suspension is a standard procedure in such cases, pending a departmental inquiry.
Defense Arguments
Defense lawyers Sandeep Singh and Kaif Muzawar argued that the First Information Report (FIR) was based on a false complaint. They claimed that Shukla is an honest officer and that he has been targeted by individuals who laid a honey trap for him. Muzawar stated, "The relationship between Shukla and the victim was purely professional. There are procedural lapses in the arrest, and the allegations are baseless."
Details of the FIR
The FIR was registered on April 26, 2026. According to the complaint, the victim initially approached Shukla in 2023 for approvals related to a construction project. Over time, the accused allegedly developed a personal relationship with her and proposed marriage, despite being already married. He assured her that he would divorce his wife, but later reneged on his promise.
The complainant further alleged that Shukla physically assaulted her, stalked her, and subjected her to sustained harassment through various social media platforms, emails, and messaging applications. The FIR also states that the accused created fake accounts, circulated private content, and issued threats to defame her if she did not comply with his demands.
Next Steps in the Investigation
The police will now interrogate Shukla during his custody period to gather more evidence and identify any accomplices. The defense is expected to challenge the remand and seek bail in the coming days. The case has drawn significant attention due to the senior position of the accused in the civic body.
This incident highlights the ongoing issues of harassment and abuse of power, with authorities vowing to conduct a thorough investigation. The victim has also been provided with legal support and protection, as per standard procedures in such cases.
